An ambitious plan by a local church to renovate the long-abandoned Ritz movie theater on Grand Avenue in downtown was unanimously and enthusiastically approved Tuesday by the Escondido City Council.

“The Grand” project will convert the 80-year-old theater, which has been vacant for 15 years, into a dual-purpose church sanctuary and a theater that will be made available to the public.

An adjacent single-story building at the southeast intersection of Grand and Juniper Street that is now home to the Arthur Murray Dance Studio and several smaller businesses will be razed. It will be replaced with a two-story structure to house church offices and meeting rooms geared toward children’s activities, as well as a coffee house and other businesses.

New Vintage Church Pastor Tim Spivey said he expects construction to begin in February or March. He said the theater should be finished in time for Christmas Eve services next year, but the adjacent building likely won’t be complete until early 2020.

The project has an estimated price tag of $7 million to $8 million.

Each member of the council praised the development and Mayor Sam Abed and Councilman Ed Gallo, who will be replaced on the council next week after having lost their re-election bids, commented on how wonderful it was that the last project they voted on was universally supported.

Following the vote, Spivey said he was “thrilled for the church and the city.”

Some of the funding for the project will come from the sale of the church’s current building at the corner of 13th and Juniper streets. Spivey said it is likely the current church will be sold before the new one is complete, but that arrangements to hold services elsewhere will be made.

The council noted how they had received many emails supporting the renovation plans and not a single one in opposition.

“The comments, the support that we received, every single one was polite, concise, positive. It’s like the perfect storm of support for a project,” Councilman Mike Morasco said.

Spivey told the council the church has worked with the entire community on the plans, not just with church members.

“We feel this is our opportunity to do something really special for the city,” he said. “…We understand the importance of that corner and hope that five or 10 years from now, as people are walking up and down Grand Avenue, they look back and say this is the best thing that ever happened to Grand Avenue.”

The council chambers were crowded with church members, as well as members of the arts and business community.

Chamber of Commerce Chief Executive Officer Rorie Johnston was effusive with her praise and said she was glad that Abed and Gallo could end their service on a high note.

“You have an opportunity to make one more legendary approval for a project that’s going to bring a magnificent change to downtown,” she said.

Spivey has said the church imagines showing vintage movies at the theater at low cost and selling popcorn for perhaps 25 cents a bag. He said theater groups will use the full stage that will be built in front of the huge screen.

The Ritz Theater opened in 1938 with seating for nearly 900. The remodel will likely call for nearly 600 seats.The theater was popular until 1951, according to the website cinematreasures.org, when a fire gutted the interior. It reopened in 1954, but never again did as much business.

In 1970, it became an X-rated movie house called the Pussycat Theater that the city was able to shut down after a few years. The theater went through a couple other rebrandings and remodels, but eventually closed for good in 2003.

“I know we’re all going to be praying with you that this is a success,” Gallo told Spivey and others in the audience.

“I’m just happy, I mean I’m not happy this is my last council meeting, but this is the last meeting that I have a vote on something and this is just awesome,” he said. “It’s a great way to go out.”

The meeting, Spivey said, was almost fun. Laughter filled the chamber on several occasions.

Abed had a message for incoming mayor Paul McNamara and councilwoman Consuelo Martinez, who he guessed were watching the meeting on television.

“Don’t expect that every council meeting will be like this tonight,” he said. “I’m just want to warn you. This is really a great meeting for me to cap my 14 years of service to the city. … In my 14 years, we have never had such support for a project...This is more than a business approval for us. It brings the community together under the banner of faith and under the community gathering as well.”

The vote to approve a conditional-use permit, development plans and a demolition plan was 4-0, with Councilman John Mason recusing himself due to a conflict of interest.